Display racks for phonograph records in envelopes or jackets, or similar articles



March 1967 R. s. HALSTEAD 3,307,708

DISPLAY RACKS FOR PHONOGRAPH RECORDS IN ENVELOPES 0R JACKETS, OR SIMILAR ARTICLES Filed Nov. 4, 1965 INVENTOR. IQ/GIAQD -51 HALSTEZD ATTOQ/VEK United States Patent Ofifice 3,307,708 Patented Mar. 7, 1967 3,307,708 DISPLAY RACKS FOR PHONOGRAPH REC- ORDS 1N ENVELOPES OR JACKETS, R SIMILAR ARTICLES Richard S. Halstead, Bellmore, N.Y., assignor to Ken Wire & Metal Products, Inc., Brooklyn, N .Y., a corporation of New York Filed Nov. 4, 1965, Ser. No. 506,344 9 Claims. (Cl. 21140) This invention relates to display racks for phonograph records in envelopes or jackets, or similiar articles.

Such envelopes are usually square. Racks have been made for such envelopes containing records. Such racks, as heretofore constructed, when full of envelopes with records therein do not permit separating the envelopes to permit browsing so that a prospective purchaser or user can see the central labels from a side.

It is hence an object of this invention to provide a rack of the character described which when full of envelopes with records therein, to capacity, will yet permit flipping the envelopes sideways to expose a side of an adjacent envelope, thereby faclitating browsing through the envelopes quickly to aid in selection of which envelope to be removed from the rack.

Another object of this invention is to provide a highly improved rack of the character described which shall be made of metal wire stock, which shall be collapsible for storage or shipment, and which shall have means to prevent the loaded envelopes from slipping out edgewise from the rack.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a strong and durable record envelope holder of the character described which shall be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, easy to manipulate, attractive in appearance, and which shall yet be practical and efficient to a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of elements and arrangement of parts, which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which the scope of invention will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings in which is shown an illustrative embodiment of this invention:-

FIG. 1 is a top view of a rack embodying the invention with phonograph record envelopes stacked therein;

FIG. 2 is an end elevational vie of the structure shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the structure of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross sectional view taken on line 44 of FIG. 3; and

FIG. 5 is an end elevational view of the rack of FIG. 1 shown in collapsed condition.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a rack' embodying the invention. Rack 10 comprises a pair of inter-pivoted trapezoidal shaped frame members 11, 12 each made of a single piece of metal wire stock.

Member 11 comprises a bottom straight horizontal portion 13 from which extend upwardly and outwardly inclined similar symmetrical straight portions 14 interconnected by a top straight horizontal portion 15 longer than said bottom portion. Portions 14 have flattened portions 16 disposed closer to the bottom portion 13 than to the top portion 15. Flattened portions 16 each has an opening 17 for the purpose hereinafter appear- 111g.

Member 12 has a bottom horizontal straight portion 20 from which extend upwardly and downwardly similar, symmetrical inclined portions 21 of a length equal to the parts of portions 14 which are below the flattened portions 16. Extending from portions 21 are similar symmetrical flattened portions 22 which cross the flattened portions 16 and lie against their outer surfaces. Flattened portions 22 are bent out of the plane of portions 20, 21 and are formed with openings 23 registering with openings 17 to receive rivets 24 therethrough. The rivets 24 are slightly inclined downwardly and outwardly.

Extending from said flattened portions 22 are similar, symmetrical, outwardly and upwardly inclined portions 25 parallel to and offset from portions 21. Said portions 25 are interconnected by a top horizontal straight portion 26 disposed at the height of and parallel to portion 15.

When rack 10 is opened up, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 of the drawing, it rests on portions 13, 20 and portions 15, 26 are further apart than are portions 13, 20.

The phonograph record envelopes 30 which contain the records are square. They may be stacked in the rack with their lower edges 30a resting on top of portions 13, 20. The side edges 30b of the envelopes, contact the insides of portions 15, 26. The envelopes project above said portions 15, 26. The flattened portions 16, 22 are of such length that when the rack is fully opened up, the side edges 30b of the envelopes will easily slide down into the rack.

It will be observed that the rack is full when there are enough loaded envelopes therein to extend the full lengths of portions 13, 20. However, when the rack is full, the envelopes may be flipped outwardly against the crossing rack portions 14, 21, 25. By flipping one envelope at a time a person can look at the labels on the envelopes one at a time and hence easily browse through the entire stock of records quickly.

It will thus be seen that there is provided an apparatus in which the several objects of this invention are achieved and which is well adapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As possible embodiments might be made of the above invention, and as various changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in the accompanying drawings is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A rack comprising only a pair of interpivoted frames, each having a bottom portion and a top portion, and a pair of outwardly and upwardly inclined side portions, the inclined portions of one frame crossing the inclined portions of the other frame, and means pivoting said crossing portions.

2. The combination of claim 1, the pivotal points of said pivoted portions being closer to the bottom portions than to the top portions, whereby said top portions are longer than said bottom portions.

3. The combination of claim 1, each frame being made of a single piece of wire stock.

4. The combination of claim 1, said inclined portions being flattened where they cross and are pivoted.

5. The combination of claim 4, the flattened portions of one frame being straight and the flattened portions of the other frame being bent and crossing the straight flattened portions.

6. The combination of claim 1, the top portions of both said frames being disposed parallel to each other.

7. The combination of claim 6, and the bottom portions of both said frames being disposed parallel to each other.

8. The combination of claim 7, said top portions and said bottom portions being disposed in parallel planes.

9. The combination of claim 4, said flattened portions being formed with registering openings receiving rivets to provide said pivot means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,971,523 8/1934 Fcingold 21141 2,212,207 8/1940 Irwin et a1. 99426 2,814,390 11/1957 Barbier 211-125 FOREIGN PATENTS 730,779 5/1932 France.

10 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A RACK COMPRISING ONLY A PAIR OF INTERPIVOTED FRAMES, EACH HAVING A BOTTOM PORTION AND A TOP PORTION, AND A PAIR OF OUTWARDLY AND UPWARDLY INCLINED SIDE PORTIONS, THE INCLINED PORTIONS OF ONE FRAME CROSSING THE INCLINED PORTIONS OF THE OTHER FRAME, AND MEANS PIVOTING SAID CROSSING PORTIONS. 